How to Prune a Japanese Snowball

The spring-flowering Japanese snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum) attracts butterflies into the garden. The shrub's flowers, fall color, multiple stems and interesting winter branch pattern make it a year-round focal point in the garden. At 10 to 15 feet tall and equally wide, it can also serve as a tall hedge. A native of Japan and China, this profusely flowering shrub is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 8. Easy to grow with few pests, pruning a Japanese snowball is usually a matter of shaping the shrub and removing dead branches.

1

Prune Japanese snowball in early to mid-summer, after the bush finishes blooming. Pruning in early spring will remove the flower buds developing on last summer's growth, reducing the number of blossoms on the shrub.

2

Put on gloves and safety glasses to protect your hands, skin and eyes. Wear long sleeves, pants and shoes when pruning to avoid scratches from the branches.

3

Prune and remove any dead branches, using anvil pruners for branches under five-eighths inch and loppers for branches up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter.

4

Thin interior and crossing branches as needed to allow light and air circulation in the center of the shrub.

5

Trim back branches by up to one-third to shape the shrub and reduce its size. Avoid pruning Japanese snowball bushes to a artificial forms such as a pyramid or ball; allow the shrub to maintain its natural shape.

Things You Will Need

Gloves

Safety glasses

Anvil pruners

Loppers

Tips

Consider the mature size of the Japanese snowball before planting in the garden. While it is slow-growing, eventually it can overwhelm a small garden.

Rake under the shrub to remove dead leaves and twigs. Add a 3-inch layer of mulch to help maintain a consistent moisture level in the soil.

The Japanese snowball is sterile; it will not produce fruits.

Warning

If you are using a ladder to reach the upper branches, have a helper assist you by steadying the ladder and handing you tools. Never work on a ladder when you're alone.

About the Author

With degrees in fine and commercial art and Spanish, Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist, book designer and published author. De Jauregui authored 50 Fabulous Tomatoes for Your Garden, available as an ebook. She enthusiastically pursues creative and community interests, including gardening, home improvement and social issues.